Our Communities

Summary

One in this series of spontaneous comedy talk shows
hosted by Bill Maher. Maher presides over a
no-holds-barred forum whose members come from the
worlds of politics, journalism, and entertainment in
order to discuss current events -- no matter how
controversial. In this program, Maher welcomes the
combustible group of actor Chevy Chase, television
producer Steven Bochco, Democratic analyst and lawyer
Susan Estrich, and Republican columnist Jennifer
Grossman. Before the guests are introduced, Maher
delivers a brief monologue with jokes related to O.J.
Simpson, Dr. Jack Kevorkian, and "king of pop" Michael
Jackson. Maher then introduces his guests one by one,
and they gather around the table to begin their debate.
Although the show's topic is ostensibly hazing at
military academies, the discussion is quickly re-routed
by Chase to focus on the nature of television, which he
characterizes as "useless and worthless." Chase
particularly singles out Bochco, the producer of shows
like "NYPD Blue" and "Hill Street Blues," as a
perpetrator of egregiously violent programming. Shortly
thereafter, he admits that he is not terribly familiar
with Bochco's work. When Maher attempts to get the
conversation back on track, Chase declares that he
disapproves even of Maher's show. Bochco suggests that
Chase leave the show, and Chase almost makes it out the
door before Maher stops him and asks him to stay.
Bochco then takes the opportunity to criticize Chase's
work and to point out that Chase got his start in
television. The debate continues when Susan Estrich
makes a joke at Chase's expense about his past work on
"Saturday Night Live."

(This series previously aired on Comedy Central from
1993 through 1997.)